Desktop Publishing

1. Desktop Publishing Recommendations for professional looking documents L Drumm Staffordshire University

2. Introduction This presentation guides you through rules which will help you to design professional documents. It will run as a slide show timed presentation but where you are asked to redesign, switch to slide view and do the exercise. When finished continue the slide show.

3. The 4 basic rules • contrast • repetition • alignment • proximity Each will be explained in detail on the following slides

4. The keys to success Rule 1 Contrast Avoid similar elements (lines, font, colour), make them very different

5. Contrast Large graphics with small graphics

6. Contrast Warm colours with cool colours

7. Contrast Large font with small font

8. Contrast Old style font with Modern style font

9. Contrast Thin lines with thick lines

10. British Gas Sale Best for bargains Starts Sunday, 21st May British Gas Sale Best for bargains Starts Sunday, 21st May Example Your eye is drawn more to because of the contrast.

11. Student Rules Turn up to lectures on time Hand in assignments on time Don’t drink too much What is wrong with this? Switch to slide view and have a go at amending it.

12. Or make the lines contrast each other to group the related elements together. Student Rules Turn up to lectures on time Hand in assignments on time Don’t drink too much You could use the proximity rules to move related items towards each other.

13. Summary Contrast • Creates visual interest • Makes your document more likely to be read Contrast should make your document easy to understand

14. The keys to success Rule 2 Repeating visual elements strengthens unity and develops organisation Repetition

15. Repetition Repeat elements throughout the design Consistent Headings Consistent graphics Consistent lines, bullets, colours throughout

16. Repetition Learn how to set up heading styles and use them

17. Repetition Decide what will be repeated on each page This is the design Main Heading Page No

18. Look for the consistent elements - the things that will be repeated on the next page Heading goes here Body text Body text Body text Body text Company Logo

19. Heading goes here position and size of graphics Body text Body text Body text Body text Company Logo font types and size of heading and body text position and size of company logo width and position and of body text position of white space

20. Summary Repetition • Don’t forget to emphasize the unifying elements • Don’t overdo the unifying element - you also need contrast Unifies and strengthens a document - ties it together

21. The keys to success Rule 3 Give visual connection for a clean sophisticated look Alignment

22. Alignment Switch to slide view and align the text on this business card Travellers cheques Commission free foreign currency One phone call Convenient home delivery 01625 345678

23. Alignment Did yours look something like this? Travellers cheques Commission free foreign currency One phone call Convenient home delivery 01625 345678

24. The improvements continue ….

25. Use contrast to highlight important information Travellers cheques Commission free foreign currency One phone call Convenient home delivery 01625 345678

26. Use proximity to group like information Travellers cheques Commission free foreign currency Convenient home delivery One phone call 01625 345678

27. Commission free foreign currency Travellers cheques One phone call 01625 345678 Convenient home delivery Be aware of the shape the text makes …. Compare this with the layout on the previous slide

28. Switch to slide view and have a go at redesigning this business card for several lecturers Staffordshire University School of Computing Trent Building Leek Road Mrs Lesley Drumm 01782 294281 Stoke-on-Trent email: L.E.Drumm@soc.staffs.ac.uk

29. Alignment - right, left, centre Transport Report for Dept. of Transport Centred alignment can be quite unimaginative - safe but formal By L. Drumm 23rd February 1999

30. Alignment - right, left, centre Transport Report for Dept. of Transport Contrast and proximity have improved the design By L. Drumm 23rd February 1999

31. Alignment - right, left, centre Transport Report for Department of Transport But this is much more imaginative By L. Drumm 23rd February 1999

32. Alignment The alignment of text is no accident 3,000 students will leave University with a degree this summer How will you ensure you stand out from the crowd?

33. What’s wrong with this? This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text

34. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Strange white space shapes have formed. Let’s improve it ... This is just an example to show how text

35. Sort out HEADINGS This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Heading has been moved to the left This is just an example to show how text

36. Sort out INDENTS This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Paragraph indents have been removed This is just an example to show how text

37. Sort out JUSTIFICATION This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Columns have been justified (blocked left and right) The problem is that this has created some holes and rivers of white space - we’ll sort this in later slides This is just an example to show how text

38. Sort out SPACING Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Spacing between paragraphs has been enlarged This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text

39. Sort out GRAPHICS Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns Graphic now aligns with columns - you could even frame the picture to make it the correct size This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text

40. Sort out COLUMNS Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is Columns should have approximately 7 words per line - change the font type/size or change the column width, or both Incidentally, we’ve got rid of those holes and rivers of white space This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed in This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is.

41. Size of fonts Fonts have different heights and widths. This is Times New Roman 24 point This is Rimsky 24 point This is Vivaldi 24 point This is Ariel 24 point This is Zanders 24 point This is Book Antiqua 24 point Changing the font may solve your problem if space is limited - BUT don’t use too many different fonts.

42. BEWARE of holes and rivers of white space within the columns of text - caused by 2 spaces after a full stop and justification!

43. An example not aligned A day at Alton Towers Have a go at aligning the elements on the page The next pages shows examples of how it looks aligned It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment

44. An example aligned Alignment is down the centre A day at Alton Towers It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what

45. Another example aligned A day at Alton Towers Which do you prefer? It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what

46. Switch to slide view and improve this design Big Ben Big Ben is situated in London, it is part of the Houses of Parliament. You need to get rid of the white space trapped in the centre

47. Was yours like this? The white space is now round the outside Big Ben Big Ben is situated in London, it is part of the Houses of Parliament. The line at the bottoms aligns the left edge of the text and the bottom of the graphics

48. Summary Alignment • Unifies and connects elements on the page • Organizes the page Remember - avoid using centred text unless you want a formal look

49. The keys to success Rule 4 Group together similar elements to organize information and ease understanding Proximity

50. Try the squint test How many elements can you see when you squint at this business card? Lesley Drumm Trent Building Staffordshire University School of Computing 01782 294281